USING OUR WORLDLY WEALTH WISELY

VERSE 3. Riches are not comely for a stingy person; And what should an envious man do with money?

an envious man. That is, a miser.

VERSE 4. He that gathers by taking from his own soul gathers for others; And others will revel in his goods.

VERSE 5. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? And he will not rejoice in his possessions.

NAB translation. To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own?

stingy with himself. In order to be generous with others you need to be generous with yourself.

will not rejoice in his possessions. A miser does no good to anyone, even to himself.

VERSE 6. There is none more evil than he that envies himself; And this is a recompense of his wickedness.

VERSE 7. Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness; And at the last he shows forth his wickedness.

VERSE 8. Evil is he that envies with his eye, Turning away the face, and despising the souls of men.

VERSE 9. A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion; And wicked injustice dries up his soul.

VERSE 10. An evil eye is grudging of bread, And he is miserly at his table.

VERSE 11. My son, according as you have, do well to yourself, And bring offerings to the Lord worthily.

do well to yourself. Godly people are free to use worldly goods for enjoyment. They are not sentenced to be stingy. And they are not required to keep nothing for themselves. It is OK to spend money and have fun. And scriptural!

VERSE 12. Remember that death will not wait, And that the covenant of the grave is not showed to you.

VERSE 13. Do well to your friend before you die; And according to your ability stretch out your hand and give to him.

VERSE 14. Defraud not yourself of a good day; And don’t let the portion of a good desire pass you by.